Taking kids out of school?

[skiwee1]

You really think that all of that time at Disney is better for your kid than school? That is really warped. Esp. 1st grade when so many skills are established. I cannot imagine someone having such chaotic priorities. Perhaps it is time to not be selfish, which is the only term I can equate with this skewed view of life and the educational system.

Perhaps you shouldn't call people names simply because you don't agree. I have been very NICE in this thread and will continue to do so. I suggest you do the same.

 

[tlbwriter]

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned the amount of extra work for the teacher (or did they, and I missed it?) Even the smartest child isn't going to pick up everything they missed over the last two weeks simply by doing worksheets or reading their textbook, and therefore you're almost guaranteeing the teacher will have to teach your child, separately, what they would have learned with the others. Seems kind of selfish to me.

I've taken DD out of kindergarten for a few days, and will take her out of first grade for a few days this year. But it's in December, right before Christmas break. I know the teachers do not introduce new concepts at this time, and they do not expect all the children to be there (in fact, the weekly newsletter simply said to let them know if you're taking a few extra days). I would not do it at the beginning of the school year.

 

[beattyfamily]

You really think that all of that time at Disney is better for your kid than school? That is really warped. Esp. 1st grade when so many skills are established. I cannot imagine someone having such chaotic priorities. Perhaps it is time to not be selfish, which is the only term I can equate with this skewed view of life and the educational system.

"warped", "chaotic priorities", "selfish", "skewed view of life"

I think you need to re-read the board's policies for posting, specifically about personal attacks.

 

[skiwee1]

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned the amount of extra work for the teacher (or did they, and I missed it?) Even the smartest child isn't going to pick up everything they missed over the last two weeks simply by doing worksheets or reading their textbook, and therefore you're almost guaranteeing the teacher will have to teach your child, separately, what they would have learned with the others. Seems kind of selfish to me.

I've taken DD out of kindergarten for a few days, and will take her out of first grade for a few days this year. But it's in December, right before Christmas break. I know the teachers do not introduce new concepts at this time, and they do not expect all the children to be there (in fact, the weekly newsletter simply said to let them know if you're taking a few extra days). I would not do it at the beginning of the school year.

Personally I wouldn't at the beginning of the year or marking period. Even the brightest kids might have problems. I take mine out when it is easier on them and there isn't anything new being introduced. That is what I would do though and wouldn't dream of telling someone else to do the same.

 

[tlbwriter]

I take mine out when it is easier on them and there isn't anything new being introduced.

How do you plan for this? I know nothing new is being introduced close to Christmas break. But when you take them out mid-year, how do you know nothing new is being introduced? Do you work this out with their teachers?

 

[skiwee1]

How do you plan for this? I know nothing new is being introduced close to Christmas break. But when you take them out mid-year, how do you know nothing new is being introduced? Do you work this out with their teachers?

I sub at DD's school and volunteer in her class. I simply ask the teacher and she let me look at her lesson plan. Since I don't take my kids out the beginning of the marking period or school year it can be easy as looking at the school calendar. To be sure it is always good to talk to the teacher about it.

 

[DZNYMGCFAM]

While I do not agree with taking my own children out to miss that much school, I think people need to realize that every family is different and has different views and priorities. Condeming that family is not the right thing to do. They will do what they do and accept the effects of those actions willingly.....that is the way their family works. I do not agree with it, but it really is none of my business....I think this thread has gone a little far when name calling enters into the picture !! We should all agree to disagree and let it go !!!! And get back to being our happy little disney planners and helpers !!

 

[Pir8girl]

May I offer a different view? A few things to consider:

Many people homeschool and do so because the child receives one on one attention. Traveling also provides quality time for the parents and children. So yes the child/children will be missing seat time but I truly believe there are valuable lessons to be learned traveling - even if it is to WDW or DL. There are many life skills that come into play: Budgeting, time management, anger management , negotiations, learning about other cultures et
It IS a pain to do bring homework and make sure it's completed and yes, it's extra work for the teacher, but I believe it is often worth it.
I work in my dd class each week. I'm willing to come in and organize, copy and do whatever the teacher needs me to do to get my child's work.
Also not every family has parents who work 9-5. My husband is a tugboat captain and is often gone EVERY night in the summer. We travel when we can which is not necessarily convenient for the school system but it's when we can be together as a family.

Just another point of view
Pirate Girl

 

[meandtheguys2]

May I offer a different view? A few things to consider:

Many people homeschool and do so because the child receives one on one attention. Traveling also provides quality time for the parents and children. So yes the child/children will be missing seat time but I truly believe there are valuable lessons to be learned traveling - even if it is to WDW or DL. There are many life skills that come into play: Budgeting, time management, anger management , negotiations, learning about other cultures et
It IS a pain to do bring homework and make sure it's completed and yes, it's extra work for the teacher, but I believe it is often worth it.
I work in my dd class each week. I'm willing to come in and organize, copy and do whatever the teacher needs me to do to get my child's work.
Also not every family has parents who work 9-5. My husband is a tugboat captain and is often gone EVERY night in the summer. We travel when we can which is not necessarily convenient for the school system but it's when we can be together as a family.

Just another point of view
Pirate Girl

That is fine, if someone decides to homeschool. I am a homeschooler, and I don't count a disney Vacation as "school" even if we do learn to say hello and good-bye in 10 different languages. But if a person makes a committment to public or private school the kid should be there. There are other vacation time periods during the year when a summer worker can go. Or even just miss a few days. But 2 weeks or, even more inconceivable, 5 weeks is ridiculous.

Abuse of the system is one of the many reasons schools are cracking down on truancy. And that is truancy at it's best.

 

[Pir8girl]

I guess ultimately the decision is left to the vacationer and their school district. I personally wouldn't take my kids out for five weeks unless we were going abroad. Or even two weeks to go to DL or WDW but to each their own. However I do still feel that travel does have its merits.
The biggest problem with schools is the $. In Oregon schools are given a certain amount based on seat time. So if you have an excused absence the school gets the money. If a child is truant - playing hooky or whatever - the school loses the $.

 

[meandtheguys2]

Per being accused of calling names. I didn't. Re-read. I said that behaviour was warped, and selfish. And I stand by it. If people want to pull their kids and homeschool I will gladly support and even encourage that endeavor. But it undermines the child and the class to have a kid pulled so much.

I do know the guidelines here, and if any of the powers that be choose to delete the post all the post, then so be it.

 

[tlbwriter]

I sub at DD's school and volunteer in her class. I simply ask the teacher and she let me look at her lesson plan. Since I don't take my kids out the beginning of the marking period or school year it can be easy as looking at the school calendar. To be sure it is always good to talk to the teacher about it.

That would be convenient. What about your 16 year old - I assume you couldn't have the same relationship with his/her teachers, so how does that work out in terms of coordinating a good time to pull out of school?

 

[skiwee1]

That would be convenient. What about your 16 year old - I assume you couldn't have the same relationship with his/her teachers, so how does that work out in terms of coordinating a good time to pull out of school?

My now 16 y/o doesn't like WDW so it isn't an issue. He thinks Disney is boring so he stays home with Dad. He hasn't been in years. I only go to WDW with my mom and 6 y/o DD. Sometimes my 22 y/o DD comes but that is about every other year. Even now this will be an unusual time to go so much. We usually go twice a year, not 3 like it will be next year. That is an oddity. After next year we will be back down to two trips. If we find it will be a problem with the school then we wouldn't go. As long as it is okayed we will continue to go while DD is in elementary school.

 

[skiwee1]

Per being accused of calling names. I didn't. Re-read. I said that behaviour was warped, and selfish. And I stand by it. If people want to pull their kids and homeschool I will gladly support and even encourage that endeavor. But it undermines the child and the class to have a kid pulled so much.

I do know the guidelines here, and if any of the powers that be choose to delete the post all the post, then so be it.

It was rude. This thread has gone 6 pages without any nastiness. It's a shame someone can't have an opinion without labeling.

 

[meandtheguys2]

It was rude. This thread has gone 6 pages without any nastiness. It's a shame someone can't have an opinion without labeling.

That is the power of shock for you. If you were to check my standing on this issue under both this name, and my former meandtheguys you would see that I have always battled for parental rights and family time. I have just not ever heard of someone needing to go to Disney so much their kid would miss that much school. Pure and simple. I know you mentioned homeschooling earlier, and that seems so much more respectful to the school and to your daughter than blowing them off.

All those on here saying family time is important, and vacations are important should be having a coniption. It is because of this kind of blatant abuse of the system that cause the schools to put hard and fast rules in place. Others wind up paying for the selfish behavior of some.

 

[JVL1018]

We have annual passes that expire Oct 19th.
I have a daughter starting Kindergarten Sept 7th.
We are going to WDW Aug 26-Sept 4th. I would much ratrher be at WDW in mid-late Sept/early Oct. However there is no way I am taking my child out of school for a week during the first month, especially of Kindergarten. It's a new school, new teacher, new rules, new friends, she needs to be there, IMO.

I would not take my kids out for 2 weeks in Sept(or any other time of the year, I think that's pushing it, a week, okay, 2 weeks, I would not feel comfortable with)

 

[skiwee1]

That is the power of shock for you. If you were to check my standing on this issue under both this name, and my former meandtheguys you would see that I have always battled for parental rights and family time. I have just not ever heard of someone needing to go to Disney so much their kid would miss that much school. Pure and simple. I know you mentioned homeschooling earlier, and that seems so much more respectful to the school and to your daughter than blowing them off.

All those on here saying family time is important, and vacations are important should be having a coniption. It is because of this kind of blatant abuse of the system that cause the schools to put hard and fast rules in place. Others wind up paying for the selfish behavior of some.

No one pays for my DD missing school. She is well ahead of her peers in her class. If her teachers and principal think's she is fine with missing school then why have a problem with it? The principal even asked us to pick her up a Stieff Mickey! Doesn't sound like they think we are blowing them off? I do not abuse the system but you think what you like. I'm VERY HAPPY with how well she does at school and wouldn't change a thing. I will no longer respond to you as I'd like this thread to continue with the nice and mature tone that it has. We will agree to disagree.

 

[Daxx]

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned the amount of extra work for the teacher (or did they, and I missed it?) Even the smartest child isn't going to pick up everything they missed over the last two weeks simply by doing worksheets or reading their textbook, and therefore you're almost guaranteeing the teacher will have to teach your child, separately, what they would have learned with the others.

Thank you from a teacher! I did mention all that you wrote in an earlier post (maybe page 4 or 5?).

There are things that just can't be taught on paper, via homework or textbook. And, if you miss out on class, you miss out on the info. and that means I have to reteach it. It also means that I have to disrupt my class to catch that one child up. That means everything comes to a screetching halt while I catch up the student. Now, as much as I'd love to pull a student out of a "special" (art, gym, music, etc.), I am not allowed to. I cannot force a child to stay after school to catch up, either. And, lunch is their time to "unwind". So, I have to set students up at an activity that I wouldn't normally have them doing just to get that student up to speed. I cannot carry on lessons if my students do not have understanding of the core concepts they need to master the materials. Finally, I have to cram things in which we missed by having to reteach materials that were covered. Things which I'd prefer to take my time on. But, I have certain things to cover by state law by the end of the school year.

And, please don't say "What's the difference between doing it for a child on vacation and a sick child" -- the difference is that nobody plans on getting sick. However, someone does plan vacations.

 

[Beth E. (NJ)]

If this thread dissolves into name calling or any other nastiness it will be closed.

Being that this is a family board -- lets all play nice. Thanks!

 

[grlpwrd]

Well, skiwee1 and her family are not like most of us.

From what I gathered from her past posts just within the past few weeks in fact:

* her 6yo dd has sensitivity issues and is a picky eater and she attends half day kindy
* a post about her 6yo dd: "My 6 y/o threatens to not go to WDW if we don't stay at the Poly. She refuses to try the GF and don't get her started on the All Stars Arena, and she so kindly puts it, she isn't having any of it!"
* they don't save for souvenirs and basically "just buys what she wants"
* spends $1000/$1200 per month on groceries and "buys what [she] wants"
* spent $15,000 on vacations this year
* they eat out for every meal at WDW except room service
* her only debt is her mortgage and [they]pretty much buy what [they]want"
* she pays $2.45 a gallon for premium gas and she stated she doesn't "know how much the lower grade stuff is because [she] doesn't use it"
* and her dh owns a H-2

Not to place her under a microscope or anything , but I did want to do my research to get a better understanding of where she is coming (from). It seems like she has a lifestyle, way of life, and values that are not common so therefore I can't judge. I believe, though, there are ultimately repercussions to such actions of taking out your child whereas they miss a lot of school or other choices you make as a family. Kids do learn by what they live.

I personally don't take my kids of of school for long lengths of time, but some people like skiwee1 do. Different strokes for different folks, I guess. Your kid - your choice.